Chrysler Museum Norfolk Virginia - Exhibit

The Chrysler Museum of art in Norfolk Virginia has nearly 30,000 pieces of art in its collection, ranging from European Renaissance to African tribal art. However only about two-thirds of that collection are commonly on display. Thousands of works of art are kept stored in one of four large storage areas in the museum.

The "Behind the seen" exhibit is a compilation of over 200 of the paintings and sculptures usually kept stored in the off-limits portions of the museum. Various European and American works of art, dating from the 17th century up to modern times, have been put on display for viewing. The exhibition starts out with early Dutch works, and moves through American painting and sculpture, to a central galley hung salon style with nearly 70 different paintings. There are also contemporary works, as well as paper works such as rare books.

The exhibit showed many wonderful paintings, and was a riot of color and display. The floor-to-ceiling hung gallery was reminiscent of the great European nobility, and their baroque displays of wealth and culture. The whole experience was breathtaking, and I am very glad I was able to view the exhibit.

Behind the seen showed the growth of the Museum's collection over the past seven decades, as prominent persons such as Walter P. Chrysler, Goldsborough Serpell, Bernice and Edgar Garbisch, and James Ricau, among others, made many contributions to the museum's aim of making all these important pieces of art available to the public.

This exhibit was a great experience to have, and I look forward to being amazed in the future by the amazing variety and display of high art to be found in the Chrysler Museum.